Coastal Blue Carbon Opportunity Assessment for Snohomish Estuary: The Climate Benefits of Estuary Restoration

This report presents the findings of a groundbreaking study that confirms the climate mitigation benefits of restoring tidal wetland habitat in the Snohomish Estuary, located within the nation's second largest estuary: Puget Sound. The study, the first of its kind, finds major climate mitigation benefits from wetland restoration and provides a much needed approach for assessing carbon fluxes for historic drained and future restored wetlands which can now be transferred and applied to other geographie

The Relationship Between Alternative Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Licensure Requirements and CTE Teacher Shortage

Career and technical education (CTE) continues to face an annual shortage of qualified teachers in the profession. This shortage has caused an increase in the use of alternative certification/licensure pathways across the United States. These alternative pathways are highly divergent from state to state. Limited research has investigated CTE teacher shortage and the alternative certification/licensure requirements that contribute. Using archival data, this correlational study looked to determine if CTE alternative certification/licensure requirements can predict CTE teacher shortages. Logistic regression analysis was used to review all 50 states and the District of Columbia and determine if any of the criterion variables predicted CTE teacher shortage. After analysis, it was determined that none of the criterion variables of academic degree, work experience, mandatory testing, and program length was statistically significant in predicting CTE teacher shortage

Annual variation in the levels of transcripts of sex-specific genes in the mantle of the common mussel, Mytilus edulis

Mytilus species are used as sentinels for the assessment of environmental health but sex or stage in the reproduction cycle is rarely considered even though both parameters are likely to influence responses to pollution. We have validated the use of a qPCR assay for sex identification and related the levels of transcripts to the reproductive cycle. A temporal study of mantle of Mytilus edulis found transcripts of male-specific vitelline coat lysin (VCL) and female-specific vitelline envelope receptor for lysin (VERL) could identify sex over a complete year. The levels of VCL/VERL were proportional to the numbers of sperm/ova and are indicative of the stage of the reproductive cycle. Maximal levels of VCL and VERL were found in February 2009 declining to minima between July - August before increasing and re-attaining a peak in February 2010. Water temperature may influence these transitions since they coincide with minimal water temperature in February and maximal temperature in August. An identical pattern of variation was found for a cryptic female-specific transcript (H5) but a very different pattern was observed for oestrogen receptor 2 (ER2). ER2 varied in a sex-specific way with male > female for most of the cycle, with a female maxima in July and a male maxima in December. Using artificially spawned animals, the transcripts for VCL, VERL and H5 were shown to be present in gametes and thus their disappearance from mantle is indicative of spawning. VCL and VERL are present at equivalent levels in February and July-August but during gametogenesis (August to January) and spawning (March to June) VCL is present at lower relative amounts than VERL. This may indicate sex-specific control mechanisms for these processes and highlight a potential pressure point leading to reduced reproductive output if environmental factors cause asynchrony to gamete maturation or release

Etude intégrée sur l'impact des différentes classes de contaminants (composés organostanniques, métaux, HAP, PCB) sur les moules. Bioaccumulation et réponses biochimiques

Le tributylétain (TBT) a été largement utilisé comme biocide dans les peintures antisalissures des bateaux. Le TBT présent dans l'environnement marin induit chez les invertébrés des modifications hormonales et des perturbations biochimiques de certaines enzymes. Ces travaux de thèse ont porté, d'une part, sur la caractérisation de la bioaccumulation du TBT chez la moule Mytilus sp. en microcosme et sur le terrain, et d'autre part, sur l'utilisation des stéroïdes endogènes comme indicateurs d'une perturbation hormonale induite par le TBT et de différents marqueurs biochimiques. Une étude de biosurveillance utilisant la transplantation de moules en cages a été réalisée dans le Bassin d'Arcachon pendant une année afin de dresser un bilan de la contamination du Bassin par les principales classes de polluants (composés organostanniques, métaux, HAP, PCB) et d'étudier les réponses biologiques associées (taux de stéroïdes endogènes, biomarqueurs d'exposition: GST, AChE, catalase, TBARS).Tributyltin (TBT) was widely used as biocide in antifouling paints. TBT present in the marine environment induces hormonal imbalance and biochemical disturbances of some enzymes in invertebrates. The bioaccumulation of TBT by the blue mussel Mytilus sp. has been studied in both microcosm and field studies and levels of endogenous steroids, used as indicators of a hormonal disturbance induced by TBT, and of various biomarkers have been also determined according to contaminant exposures. A one-year monitoring study using transplanted mussels was performed in the Arcachon Bay in order to obtain a global evaluation of the contamination (organotin compounds, heavy metals, PAHs, PCBs) of the bay and to study the associated biological responses (endogenous steroid levels and biomarkers of exposure: GST, AChE, catalase and TBARS)

ADAPTASI MAHASISWA PMM2 TERHADAP CULTURE SHOCK DI PT PENERIMA

Perbedaan budaya dapat menimbulkan culture shock pada pihak-pihak yang terlibat dalam komunikasi antarbudaya. Mahasiswa asal Medan (Universitas Hkbp Nommensen) menjadi salah satu contoh mahasiswa yang mengalami culture shock sejak awal mengikuti program pertukaran mahasiswa di Universitas di luar pulau sumatera seperti di Universitas Negeri Surabaya dan Universitas Nusa Cendana. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui proses adaptasi mahasiswa Universitas HKBP Nommensen Medan  terhadap culture shock di Universitas penerima serta hambatan yang diperoleh dalam proses adaptasi. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif, sumber data yang digunakan adalah sumber data primer dan sekunder dengan jumlah informan sebanyak 5 orang mahasiswa. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan yaitu reduksi data, penyajian data, penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan adanya perbedaan kondisi yang dialami masing-masing mahasiswa Universitas HKBP Nommensen dalam  fase adaptasi budaya. Perbedaan kondisi sosial budaya mengakibatkan mahasiswa mengalami culture shock di Pt penerima. Namun mahasiswa memilih bertahan dan menghadapi segala kondisi yang ada, sehingga secara keseluruhan semua mahasiswa mampu beradaptasi di lingkungan budaya baru. Adapun hambatan dalam proses adaptasi mahasiwa Universitas Hkbp Nommensen Medan berasal dari dalam diri dan lingkungan

Expression and trans-specific polymorphism of self-incompatibility RNases in Coffea (Rubiaceae)

Self-incompatibility (SI) is widespread in the angiosperms, but identifying the biochemical components of SI mechanisms has proven to be difficult in most lineages. Coffea (coffee; Rubiaceae) is a genus of old-world tropical understory trees in which the vast majority of diploid species utilize a mechanism of gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI). The S-RNase GSI system was one of the first SI mechanisms to be biochemically characterized, and likely represents the ancestral Eudicot condition as evidenced by its functional characterization in both asterid (Solanaceae, Plantaginaceae) and rosid (Rosaceae) lineages. The S-RNase GSI mechanism employs the activity of class III RNase T2 proteins to terminate the growth of "self" pollen tubes. Here, we investigate the mechanism of Coffea GSI and specifically examine the potential for homology to S-RNase GSI by sequencing class III RNase T2 genes in populations of 14 African and Madagascan Coffea species and the closely related self-compatible species Psilanthus ebracteolatus. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences aligned to a diverse sample of plant RNase T2 genes show that the Coffea genome contains at least three class III RNase T2 genes. Patterns of tissue-specific gene expression identify one of these RNase T2 genes as the putative Coffea S-RNase gene. We show that populations of SI Coffea are remarkably polymorphic for putative S-RNase alleles, and exhibit a persistent pattern of trans-specific polymorphism characteristic of all S-RNase genes previously isolated from GSI Eudicot lineages. We thus conclude that Coffea GSI is most likely homologous to the classic Eudicot S-RNase system, which was retained since the divergence of the Rubiaceae lineage from an ancient SI Eudicot ancestor, nearly 90 million years ago.United States National Science Foundation [0849186]; Society of Systematic Biologists; American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Duke University Graduate Schoolinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relationship Between Depression and Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, neurodegenerative disease characterized by chronic inflammation and demyelination of the brain and spinal cord. This deterioration of the central nervous system leads to a wide range of motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Each patient varies in symptom profile and disease course. However, cognitive impairment has been found in roughly half of all people with MS regardless of MS subtype. This may present as deficits in attention, information processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial perception. This impairment may interfere with basic and instrumental activities of daily living, vocational status, and social functioning; all of which may impact overall quality of life. Likewise, depression can also alter cognitive function, notably executive function. As MS progresses, the development of depressive symptoms in patients becomes more common. The objective of the study was to determine if there was a correlation between cognitive impairment and severity of depression in patients with MS. Method: Participants with MS were administered tests for cognitive function, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a measure of cognitive impairment; Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), a measure of information processing speed, attention, and working memory; and the King-Devick Test, which measures saccadic dysfunction and attention. In addition, participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD), a measure of depressive symptoms. The research cohort was broken into 2 groups (cognitive impairment or no cognitive impairment) based on SDMT T-scores, which were calculated using published norms that account for age and education. The SDMT has been well validated as a measure of cognitive decline in people with MS. The groups were compared using ANOVA to determine if they differed based on depression scores. A correlation analysis also measured the relationship between cognitive performance and depression symptomology

Adventitious rooting declines with the vegetative to reproductive switch and involves a changed auxin homeostasis

Adventitious rooting, whereby roots form from non-root tissues, is critical to the forestry and horticultural industries that depend on propagating plants from cuttings. A major problem is that age of the tissue affects the ability of the cutting to form adventitious roots. Here, a model system has been developed using Pisum sativum to differentiate between different interpretations of ageing. It is shown that the decline in adventitious rooting is linked to the ontogenetic switch from vegetative to floral and is mainly attributed to the cutting base. Using rms mutants it is demonstrated that the decline is not a result of increased strigolactones inhibiting adventitious root formation. Monitoring endogenous levels of a range of other hormones including a range of cytokinins in the rooting zone revealed that a peak in jasmonic acid is delayed in cuttings from floral plants. Additionally, there is an early peak in indole-3-acetic acid levels 6h post excision in cuttings from vegetative plants, which is absent in cuttings from floral plants. These results were confirmed using DR5:GUS expression. Exogenous supplementation of young cuttings with either jasmonic acid or indole-3-acetic acid promoted adventitious rooting, but neither of these hormones was able to promote adventitious rooting in mature cuttings. DR5:GUS expression was observed to increase in juvenile cuttings with increasing auxin treatment but not in the mature cuttings. Therefore, it seems the vegetative to floral ontogenetic switch involves an alteration in the tissue’s auxin homeostasis that significantly reduces the indole-3-acetic acid pool and ultimately results in a decline in adventitious root formation

Screening of the Toxicity of Polystyrene Nano- and Microplastics Alone and in Combination with Benzo(a)pyrene in Brine Shrimp Larvae and Zebrafish Embryos

The occurrence of nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems and their capacity to sorb hydrophobic pollutants is nowadays an issue of great concern. This study aimed to assess the potential bioavailability and acute toxicity of polystyrene (PS) NPs (50 and 500 nm) and of MPs (4.5 µm), alone and with sorbed benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), in the embryo/larval stages of brine shrimps and zebrafish. Exposure to pristine plastics up to 50.1 mg PS/L did not cause significant impact on brine shrimp survival, while some treatments of plastics-B(a)P and all concentrations of B(a)P (0.1–10 mg/L) resulted acutely toxic. In zebrafish, only the highest concentrations of MPs-B(a)P and B(a)P caused a significant increase of malformation prevalence. Ingestion of NPs was observed by 24–48 h of exposure in the two organisms (from 0.069 to 6.87 mg PS/L). In brine shrimps, NPs were observed over the body surface and within the digestive tract, associated with feces. In zebrafish, NPs were localized in the eyes, yolk sac, and tail at 72 h, showing their capacity to translocate and spread into the embryo. MP ingestion was only demonstrated for brine shrimps. In zebrafish embryos exposed to plastics-B(a)P, B(a)P appeared in the yolk sac of the embryos. The presence of B(a)P was also noticeable in brine shrimps exposed to 500 nm NPs-B(a)P. In conclusion, NPs entered and spread into the zebrafish embryo and PS NPs, and MPs were successful vectors of B(a)P to brine shrimp and zebrafish embryos. Particle size played a significant role in explaining the toxicity of plastics–B(a)P. Our study provides support for the idea that plastics may pose a risk to aquatic organisms when combined with persistent organic pollutants such as B(a)P.This work was funded by UPV/EHU (predoctoral grant to IMA), Basque Government (consolidated research group IT810-13 and IT1302-19), Spanish MINECO project NACE (CTM2016-81130-R), French ANR (No.–10–IDEX-03-02 and Cluster of Excellence COTE (ANR-10-LABX 45). This work was performed within the framework of the Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) project “H2020 CAS6 Nanoplastics” funded by the European Commission- Joint Research Centre (JRC/A/05)